ALTAAQA Alternative Solutions has recently mobilised, installed and successfully commissioned a 95-MW temporary power station in the city of Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia, in what is described as the country’s biggest IPP (independent power plant) project in a single site to date. The project took only 22 days to complete.

Located near Riyadh with a population of 280,000, Al Kharj is a rapidly growing city with an increasing demand for power. Jeddah-based Altaaqa Alternative Solutions provided generators, each with an output of 1500 kW, which have been fully supplying the city for the past few months.

“Our turnkey power solutions and experienced staff enable us to be involved in all phases of any project, of any scale,” says Emad Mukhalalaty, managing director of Altaaqa Alternative Solutions.

“This recent achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and outstanding efforts of our Power Projects team, who ensured we finished a project of such magnitude in the shortest time possible,” he adds.

Altaaqa, which has strong technical and commercial capabilities, has been commended by Saudi Electric Company (SEC) for its ability to mobilise, install, test and commission power plant capacities of 20 MW to 30 MW within days, and received recognition with direct project awards.

In 2007, Altaaqa was granted its energy sales licence from the regulatory authority and continues to seek strategic partnerships in IWPP (independent water and power plants), renewable and cogeneration technologies.

The company’s engineered solutions, utility grade protection system, and competent installation and operating staff contributes to its success in grid enforcement power generation capacity during periods of high demand, temporary power during planned maintenance or unplanned outages, and peak shaving during high tariff hours to meet production needs.

Altaaqa marks the completion of the installation in Aden.

Altaaqa Alternative Solutions Company was established by the Jeddah-based Zahid Group of Companies in 2004 in order to provide small to medium power and water solutions. It is an environmentally responsible provider of electrical power, water and temperature control solutions serving exclusively the dynamic Saudi market. The company is the largest local supplier of rental generators and is the largest single owner of Caterpillar rental generators in the world.

Meanwhile, another Zahid Group company, Altaaqa Global, received recognition in the “Energy Excellence” award at the Energy Institute in London, UK, for its Yemen power project.

Altaaqa Global CAT Rental Power received the highly commended honours for its record-breaking 23-day installation of a 54 MW power plant in Aden, thus helping in rebuilding a war-torn nation through energy. The power project has the capacity to supply up to 150,000 homes with electricity, benefiting more than half a million people in the city. The company also provided job opportunities for Yemenis and supported local school children through educational initiatives.

The annual Energy Institute Awards, held last month (November 13), recognises individuals and organisations in the energy industry for setting standards of excellence and innovation.

The same project also won “Power Project of the Year” at the Middle East Electricity Awards in Dubai this February.

“Altaaqa Global played a critical role in the electric power industry. This award category is given to a company that offers the best planning, delivery and execution of any power plant in the Middle East region. Altaaqa Global won in this category for its excellent design, innovative power solutions, fuel savings, record-breaking project installation and exceptional commitment to provide support to its client,” the judges said in a statement.

Altaaqa Global is a partnership between Caterpillar and the Zahid Group, set up to deliver multi-megawatt turnkey temporary power solutions worldwide. The company owns, mobilises, installs, and operates efficient temporary IPPs at customer sites, focusing on the emerging markets of Sub-Sahara Africa, Central Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Latin America, South East Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Offering power rental equipment that will operate with different types of fuel such as diesel, natural gas, or dual-fuel, Altaaqa Global is positioned to rapidly deploy and provide temporary power plant solutions, delivering electricity whenever and wherever it may be needed.

With state-of-the-art temporary power equipment and focused expertise, the company quickly delivers power projects of 20 MW to 100 MW and more, anytime and anywhere at extremely short notice.

Altaaqa Global CAT Rental Power of the UAE has recently been conferred the ISO 9001:2008 (quality management system), ISO 14001:2004 (environmental management system), and Ohsas 18001:2007 (occupational health and safety management systems) certification by TÜV Nord Germany, the ISO-accredited certification body headquartered in Hanover, Germany.

Zahid Group represents a diverse range of companies, offering comprehensive, customer-centric solutions in a number of thriving industries. Some of these include construction; mining; oil and gas; agriculture; power, electricity and water generation; material handling; building materials; transportation and logistics; real estate development; travel and tourism; waste management and recycling; and hospitality.